Burton told to tone down SWEENEY's blood bath

[Michael Bennett]

Burton told to tone down SWEENEY's blood bath#1

Posted: 8/24/07 at 2:44pm

According to this article in the daily mail, with lots of "gorey details" about the shooting of the film.

Frankly, I think its all just great PR, but that said, I'm not sure even I could watch the movie if the film is as graphic as what they are describing!

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/showbiz/bazbamigboye.html?in_article_id=477380&in_page_id=1794
Updated On: 8/24/07 at 02:44 PM

[zepka102]

re: Burton told to tone down SWEENEY's blood bath#2

Posted: 8/24/07 at 2:49pm

Wow... that scene with Tobias sounds disturbing... since I only saw the revival and didn't know anything about the show beforehand, guess I missed that that's what he was actually doing!

::bust a move::

[zooxanthellae]

re: Burton told to tone down SWEENEY's blood bath#2

Posted: 8/24/07 at 2:50pm

Nice

[Michael Bennett]

re: Burton told to tone down SWEENEY's blood bath#3

Posted: 8/24/07 at 2:51pm

well, yeah that scene is per the course of SWEENEY when it has actual props.

The article alludes to the Studio pushing for a lesser rating (a "15" verses an "18" - I would assume a PG 13 over an R) completely understandable from a business standpoint considering the huge core movie going audience of teenage boys (and Depp's PIRATES popularity).

[artscallion]

re: Burton told to tone down SWEENEY's blood bath#4

Posted: 8/24/07 at 2:59pm

True. But are teenaged boys going to care that they can get into the big movie musical if all the gore's missing? It's a fine line. I hope they find a balance.

Art has a double face, of expression and illusion.

[zooxanthellae]

re: Burton told to tone down SWEENEY's blood bath#5

Posted: 8/24/07 at 3:02pm

Well at least the studio really likes it, and apparently thinks it's going to do well!

[BruceWayne5148]

re: Burton told to tone down SWEENEY's blood bath#6

Posted: 8/24/07 at 3:05pm

I thought they were talking about NC-17 vs R....in the UK isn't the age 15 for what 17 is here at R movies?

[mateo]

re: Burton told to tone down SWEENEY's blood bath#7

Posted: 8/24/07 at 3:05pm

Do you think we will see anyone SINGING in the trailer? Like actual mouths moving?

"Zac is sweet as can be. He's very much just a sweet kid from California who happens to have a face that looks like it was drawn by Michelangelo, (if Michelangelo did anime)."
-Adam Shankman.

"I haven't left this building since Windows 3.1!"

"Celebrating a birthday this week: Rene Descartes is 412! Do you know who he is? Then why are you watching this show? You could probably get into college and even get one of those job things. As for the rest of us; Amanda Bynes is 22! Yay!"
-E!'s "The Soup"

[turquoisefish]

re: Burton told to tone down SWEENEY's blood bath#8

Posted: 8/24/07 at 3:06pm

I would guess the story is simplified a bit. I don't see the studios being too concerened about the UK certificate (15 vs 1, it seems to make more difference in the USA whether a film is R or not.
I would rather the film be an 18 certificate (which in the UK means no-one below 18 is admitted, even with a parent).

[worrell4077]

re: Burton told to tone down SWEENEY's blood bath#9

Posted: 8/24/07 at 3:07pm

That scene they described with Tobias has to still be included in the final print as it's the final words of dialogue in Sweeney as he's using the grinder. I just hope that if alot is cut out that they put those scenes on the dvd.

[The Boy From Ohio]

re: Burton told to tone down SWEENEY's blood bath#10

Posted: 8/24/07 at 3:09pm

Now we will have to wait for the un-rated directors cut on DVD.

9/10 - Next To Normal, Ensemble Theatre
9/18 - Brian Stokes Mitchell, Cincy Pop's
9/28 - Death Of A Salesman, Wright State

[pab]

re: Burton told to tone down SWEENEY's blood bath#11

Posted: 8/24/07 at 3:11pm

"I thought they were talking about NC-17 vs R....in the UK isn't the age 15 for what 17 is here at R movies?"

UK Ratings:

Uc - Universal Children - Suitable for all, but especially suitable for young children to watch on their own (home media only)

U - Universal - Suitable for all

PG - Parental Guidance - All ages admitted, but parents are advised that certain scenes may be unsuitable for children

12A - 12 Accompanied/Advisory - Suitable for those aged 12 and over (cinema only); those aged under 12 are only admitted if accompanied by an adult

12 - Suitable for those aged 12 and over (VHS, DVDs and games only). Nobody under 12 may buy or rent a 12 rated DVD, VHS or game.

15 - Suitable for those aged 15 and over.
Nobody younger than 15 may see a 15 film in a cinema. No-one younger than 15 may rent or buy a 15 rated VHS, DVD or game.

18 -Suitable for those aged 18 and over.
Nobody younger than 18 may see an 18 film in a cinema. Nobody younger than 18 may rent or buy an 18 rated VHS, DVD or game.

R18 - Restricted 18 - Suitable for those aged 18 and over. May only be shown at licensed cinemas or sold at sex shops, and only to people aged 18 or over.

"Smart! And into all those exotic mystiques -- The Kama Sutra and Chinese techniques. I hear she knows more than seventy-five. Call me tomorrow if you're still alive!"

[Roninjoey]

re: Burton told to tone down SWEENEY's blood bath#12

Posted: 8/24/07 at 3:14pm

Ugh. I just want the movie to come out now! Or at least the trailer.

yr ronin,
joey

[JasonM12480]

re: Burton told to tone down SWEENEY's blood bath#13

Posted: 8/24/07 at 3:15pm

There's a way to be scary and horrifying without being blatently gory. Sometimes the things that are not seen can be more frightening when left to the imagination. Frankly, the only three real cuts that should be seen by the camera are the first with Pirelli, Lucy, and the final with the Judge. The others can be shadows, sounds, a close up on his face while he performs the action, instead of a close up of the neck opening up with blood spurting everywhere. The audience knows what he's doing - it doesn't always make it better to SHOW it.

My two cents, for what it's worth.

[artscallion]

re: Burton told to tone down SWEENEY's blood bath#14

Posted: 8/24/07 at 3:17pm

"Now we will have to wait for the un-rated directors cut on DVD."

Of course! There's always that! I'd welcome a milder, more accessable release to a broader audience as long as I can get the Juicy version on DVD.

One of the fiercest topics on the IMDB Sweeney forum is the rating decision. Most of the people there seem to be under fifteen and are devastated that they may not be able to see this.

Art has a double face, of expression and illusion.

[pab]

re: Burton told to tone down SWEENEY's blood bath#15

Posted: 8/24/07 at 3:20pm

"Most of the people there seem to be under fifteen and are devastated that they may not be able to see this."

Oh please, what rating has ever stopped kids fifteen and under from seeing a film. I'll bet most of them have even seen porn.

"Smart! And into all those exotic mystiques -- The Kama Sutra and Chinese techniques. I hear she knows more than seventy-five. Call me tomorrow if you're still alive!"

[Michael Bennett]

re: Burton told to tone down SWEENEY's blood bath#16

Posted: 8/24/07 at 3:22pm

I agree Jason. It doesn't need to be FRIDAY THE 13TH style gore to be effective. It will lose a huge amount of potential audience (including adults over 18 who just can't stomach that much blood) if they go for a slasher film.

[folkyboy]

re: Burton told to tone down SWEENEY's blood bath#17

Posted: 8/24/07 at 3:56pm

i wanna see HOW bad it is before i know if they should cut it. they should invite me to a screening and i'll judge for them

[best12bars]

re: Burton told to tone down SWEENEY's blood bath#18

Posted: 8/24/07 at 4:06pm

Burton fought this same battle with Sleepy Hollow, which ultimately landed an R rating.

"Jaws is the Citizen Kane of movies."

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blocked: logan2, Diamonds3, Hamilton22

[thesondhead]

re: Burton told to tone down SWEENEY's blood bath#19

Posted: 8/24/07 at 4:06pm

"Most of the people there seem to be under fifteen and are devastated that they may not be able to see this."

And most of them seem to be dumbasses.

"I am a camera with its shutter open, quite passive, recording, not thinking...someday all of this will have to be developed, carefully printed, fixed." - Christopher Isherwood

[Roninjoey]

re: Burton told to tone down SWEENEY's blood bath#20

Posted: 8/24/07 at 4:08pm

Do movie theaters actually enforce these ratings? I think the gore is part of the fun and appeal of Sweeney Todd.

yr ronin,
joey

[neddyfrank2]

re: Burton told to tone down SWEENEY's blood bath#21

Posted: 8/24/07 at 4:09pm

In its present form the film would merit an 18 rating, but Warner Brothers would prefer it to have a 15

What does that mean?

[CATSNYrevival]

re: Burton told to tone down SWEENEY's blood bath#22

Posted: 8/24/07 at 4:12pm

Toby is being played by a ten-year-old boy?

[pab]

re: Burton told to tone down SWEENEY's blood bath#23

Posted: 8/24/07 at 4:12pm

As listed in the UK ratings above:

15 - Suitable for those aged 15 and over.
18 - Suitable for those aged 18 and over.

"Smart! And into all those exotic mystiques -- The Kama Sutra and Chinese techniques. I hear she knows more than seventy-five. Call me tomorrow if you're still alive!"

[best12bars]

re: Burton told to tone down SWEENEY's blood bath#24

Posted: 8/24/07 at 4:18pm

"Toby is being played by a ten-year-old boy?"

Tobias was always a young boy, according to the legend.

"Jaws is the Citizen Kane of movies."

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blocked: logan2, Diamonds3, Hamilton22